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INTRODUCTION

Overview

The Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) is an exempt, independent, quasi-judicial agency responsible for promoting the conservation and sustained yield management of Alaska's fisheries resources and the economic health and stability of commercial fishing in Alaska by regulating entry into commercial fisheries in the public interest.

To meet these responsibilities, the Commission is organized into four sections (Adjudications, Research, Licensing, and Administrative/Data Processing; see, chart: "Organization by Agency Function") and engages in the following activities mandated by law (AS 16.43.010-990):

Establishes maximum numbers of entry permits for fisheries to be limited and implements application processes and systems to rank eligible applicants according to the relative hardship they would suffer by not receiving an entry permit from the state for a limited fishery;

Processes entry permit applications and adjudicates claims not resolved in initial classification;

Issues entry permits in limited fisheries, interim-use permits in unlimited fisheries, and licenses for all vessels as required to legally participate in the state's commercial fisheries;

Processes requests for emergency and permanent transfers of entry and interim-use permits, and compiles data on all such transfers;

Enforces provisions of the Limited Entry Act by regulating permit transfer activities, conducting investigations, and initiating administrative enforcement proceedings;

Monitors unlimited fisheries to assess the rate of development and the potential need for limitation;

Monitors limited fisheries to obtain information needed for setting optimum numbers in those fisheries and to determine the need for fleet reduction or increase;

Participates in the research and development of comprehensive fisheries economic data, and disseminates same to policy makers and members of the public; and,

Works with other state and federal management agencies to develop and coordinate fisheries policies.

In 1991, the Commission and its staff continued to meet its responsibilities in an efficient manner despite the declining budget and increasing work load.

The Adjudications Section hit an all time high during the year with the completion of 151 decisions. The hearing officers also conducted 133 separate administrative hearings. The CFEC Commissioners adjudicated a total of 136 cases, second only to 1986 with 139 cases decided. 1991 marked the seventh consecutive year with more than 100 cases decided.

The Licensing Section also hit an all time high with the issuance of more than 50,000 permits and licenses. This section was also responsible for the collection of more than $6 million in revenue to the state. A total of 17,944 individual permit holders were recorded for the year 1991.

The CFEC Research Section was very productive during 1991 with the completion of a number of important research projects. A major study entitled "Changes in the Distribution of Alaska's Limited Entry Permits, 1975-1990", was completed depicting in detail a 15 year history of permit transfers. Work also continued on the optimum numbers study as required by Johns v. State, CFEC.

The Data Processing Section provides the link that ties all the work of the Commission together. This section has continued to refine the Commission's computer support and allowed the agency to achieve greater efficiencies. Because of the Data Processing Section the Commission has been able to produce more with less.

The following parts of this report provide a more thorough outline of some of the year's important events by operating section. The appendix provides summary data on Alaska's limited fisheries and permits. Questions or comments about the contents of this report are welcome.

During 1991, the Alaska Legislature authorized the CFEC to implement a moratorium on new entrants into the Southeastern Alaska Dungeness crab fisheries. After this law was passed, all of the CFEC sections helped review the need for a moratorium. Prior to its decision to establish a moratorium, the CFEC analyzed data about the participants in the fishery, proposed regulations, held public hearings, and prepared application forms to mail to potential applicants.

In August of 1991, Frank Homan of Juneau was appointed to the Commission upon the resignation of Phil Smith also of Juneau who had served as a Commissioner for eight years.

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